Listen to the Mellow Tuareg Blues of Imarhan and Check Out the Algerian Band Tuesday at the Cedar!
If you’re familiar with the sounds of Tuareg Blues (or Saharn Blues or Dessert Blues or any name you call it) you know the cliff notes of why this sound from Northwest Africa has exploded across the globe. Whether your entry point is Tinariwen, Mdou Moctar or my favorite Les Filles de Illighadad, the hypnotic blend of cultures and sounds creates a genre that is easy to love. Here in Minneapolis, because of our beloved Cedar Cultural Center, we’ve been lucky to see so many bands playing this ecstatic music in our city in the last decade.
The latest band to come through the Twin Cities is the group Imarhan, who check all of the boxes that make the aforementioned bands great, but throughout their discography also have shown the ability to mellow out. Their ability to chill out and lean less into the rock and roll portion of the genre creates a richly atmospheric sound, all without losing the pulse that makes this music so good.
It isn’t all campfire acoustic like the song “Achinkad” below, but the song gives a sense of the way they incorporate music lush, chilled-out vibes into their sound. You can listen to their latest LP Aboogi HERE to get a sense of how they meld the warmer instrumentation with usual circular riffs, driving vocals and pulsating grooves. It’s good stuff.
Opening the show will be two amazing local artists, Crystal Myslajek & Liz Draper, who will be joining forces for the night and will certainly get the night started with some good vibes.
Tickets are $23 at the door and music starts at 7:30. More info HERE.
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